LPN to RN Program or becoming a CNA…?

I was going to school to become an RN but after applying to the program they would not except my credits. I am now interested in becoming either a CNA or LPN for the time being to help gain experience while starting over. I figured the LPN to RN program would be nice.
I’m trying to figure out which is better for me.
Any advice would greatly appreciated.

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If you’re looking to get into a job in the shortest amount of time, CNA is the way to go. Most CNA programs are only a few weeks long, and you then take the state test for your card. Many facilities will extend a job offer contingent on your passing the CNA test, so you could be in a job within a couple of months. Some places will even pay for your CNA training if you agree to work for them after you finish. The pay, in Ohio at least, ranges anywhere from 9 to 13 dollars an hour (10 or 11 is about average), depending on where you work, and the shift is usually 8 hours long. Most of the time, you’ll be working in a nursing home, though many hospitals hire CNA’s as patient care technicians. The job itself is physically demanding but it’s rewarding, and since you’ll be working in the medical field you can continue to pick up knowledge and experience that will help your future nursing career.

To the best of my knowledge, LPN training lasts about 9 months. As an LPN, you’ll rarely find a job outside of a nursing home. The pay is usually in the mid teens per hour, and most LPNs I know work 12 hour shifts. The job is much less physically demanding than that of a CNA, and the skill set has more overlap with the RN than the CNA does.

If you can, I would recommend starting as CNA, then getting your LPN, and moving on to RN. The CNA program is not very expensive, and it will provide a better paying job than most other entry level positions you would be able to get. That would put you in a better financial position for nursing school, whether that’s an LPN or RN program.